Self-reinforcing paper container



March 2 1943. -H GORDON 2,312,895

SELF-REINFORGING PAPER CONTAINER I Filed Sept. '7, 1939 I 3 Sheets-Sheet1 INVENTOR ATTOR March 2 1 943. GORDON 2,312,895

- SBLF-REINFORCINGPAPEVR CONTAINER Filed Sept. 7, 1939* s Slieets-Sheets '|NV E NTOR M 4 imgyvg Gordon ATTORNEYS tition with glass bottles.

Patented Mar. 2, 1943 UN ITED STATES ATENT OFFICE 3 Claims.

My present invention relates to the art of paper containers for liquidfood products and more particularly to a self-reinforcing papercontainer.

-My invention consists essentially of a paper container which is soformed that unusual rigid.- ity is efiected with the minimum weight ofpaper. Means are provided for securely and easilyclosing the top.Further means are provided which, while forming a thorough seal for thepackage until the same is opened, provides a pouring open ing thatpermits easy dispensing of. the liquid productand at the same timeleaves a cover pore tion that may be reseated, in the position fromwhich it is torn, so as to forma reasonably tight closure for the pensedat the time the container isopened.

Paper containers, of thesealing type oftenreferred to as paper bottles,have been on themarket for some time and have been used in compein themilk trade. However, there are many other products that are sold in.milk bottles: such as fruit juices, oysters, clam nectar, saladdressings of various kinds, cottage cheese and similar products, andother specially extracted fruit and vegetable juices. It has long beenrecognized that a desirable container would be of such a structure thatit could be handled so as to guarantee absolute sterilization and, tofurther provide against contamination, that it should be produced socheaply that it could be thrown away after use. However, to satisfy thisdemand a paper bottle-or container must be of such a character that itcan be produced at a price considerably under thatof a glass bottle. Theglass bottle normally is used many times and for a paper container tocom.- pete with the, same it must be priced at a fraction of the cost ofthe milk bottle plus the cleaning and sterilization expense that theglass bottle must undergo each time it is used.

The paper containers used in competition with the milk bottle, as far asobserved, are of such design that they require very expensiveassembling, filling, and sealing equipment so that the small dairy ordistributor of liquid food products cannot afiord to install thisexpensive equipment. Further, the constructions used to date are of sucha character that the cost of each container is relatively high so thatit does not compare favorably with the cost of each use of the standardmilk bottle. One reason for this excessive cost'is that when a containeris filled with a quart of milk, substantially two pounds of liquid iscon tained therein and, unless it is of unusually sturdy structure, injostling about as the containers are portion of the contents not ,dis-

This use is primarily being taken from the pointof fillingto1the -,cu s+tomer oruser, it wllltendi t te dammed-mu sa-nap has; r nstanceiQQfihB'LWQ KEE gQ the container will tend to loosen up th seal j nts sothatth narenot in. we condition when delivered o -the: cust me Io date temanuiacturers ha e. esorte tsheavy weight pap r in, termite their con an r orto metal reinf rcem nts: and; hi is ebahlyi greatest, cpntributinstwice to th his}; :of pap r conta n rs- Wi h my .m1 r9Yed-9@ ta .nr Ihave; Provi e m ans whereby relative! h a er can be'used nd. wear th rla ierma ien Q m be tla- I p ovide i idity. 1.1. to th s u m of thecontainer. This makes it possible to pro.- duce a prac ica .rusabl .enta ner om .ligh wei ht pa er that w ll sa e. a th ce s r requisitestensth because of the. light weight of the pape r-.-u sed,- enable ,me 305 11 9 3 a contain r hat semmresia r bl in i e to thecost: offv a s nleuse: Q -the t ndard glas bottle.

A f rtheriect: of my; pre entinvenfion is to. rovide a ta eworm-min r. bl ha -ca be a s m ed e on mi al yo a ma hi e-o asonable cost so that mycontainers may becpmme i l -qbtainab e yt e smaller d i yand quid iceddi t but r An important obi ec .of my inven on o ro.- videiineans torreinforcingall the corners .o fwmy cc t ners; t s include ifih v r cal on s and the corners in the bottom of theeontainars.

Anc he i bject p my; p se invention is o provi a secure tonc osure t cal e-ea i y sea ed rand-when sealed provides a tampereprcof s ni aylesure- Another object of my invention is to provide a blank form that,may be readily out frame-roll a ers sk; is: Po ib e. due :to the lighwei ht pa thatl a ab e to u emy ei orc d s ct .an fie seno icmy I a apreciable saving in p ape -;.SI Q0k ,butitis the most .economi cal wayinLase .can be p r a e a eat y. s mplifiestt e ndl n of the. paperin ma hn .A f r he v inapc ta cb ec 19 m ven im iS P i e'a nericre ed earing-sr p or d spensin eveni his: ur-ri dv two h ck messes. 9 t-P? 9 1W,:U thpe f ra on w s a ge ed the the; s al-cislprovided sin-tulip :isrlesireclmore the same m t after-th peer-1.- :ine. efi cted b cass ni IQF Q Q -Yprovided ,by tlgetw ..tn c scesses taper an the vfact t at or the.starti tab. te t 9m" it showing in dotted representation, the portion ofV the blank to which adhesive is applied; the dashed lines further showthe breaking or folding line and the heavy dashed line shows theperforation that provides the pouring spout.

Figure 4 is a perspective view, partly in sec-' tion, showing a typicalsection through my container when fully formed.

Figure 5 isa perspective view, in section, showing the manner ofemploying my bottom reinforcement. v

' Figure 6 is a perspective view of my container in position ready forfilling.

Figure '7 is a perspective view showing my container top in the firststep of being closed.

Figure 8 is a top plan view of the top of my container with the formshown in Figure 7.

Figure 9 is a perspective view showing the top of my container with thesecuring staple in place as the container is finally sealed and showing,by way of further illustration, the pouring opening with its coveringtab broken out to permit pouring.

Figure 10 is a vertical, sectional view taken at right angles to theplane of the closure.

Figure 11 is a vertical, sectional view taken at right angles to Figure'10.

Figure 12 is a slightly enlarged, vertical, sectional view through thetop of my container showing the same fully sealed, excepting that thedischarge opening has been uncovered.

Figure 13 is a top plan viewv of a modified form of bottom reinforcementsimilar to that shown in Figure 2.

Figure 14 is a bracketed view showing the manner in which this form-ofbottom reinforcement is put in place; for sake of clearness the cornersof the container, which is broken away in sections, are projectedupwardly as shown by dot and dash line.

Figure 15 is a modified form of top structure in which a tearing stripis provided extending around the top of the container just below wherethe top closing members are broken in from the body of the container.

Figure 16 is a cross-sectional view taken through thetearing stripindicated in Figure 15.

Figure 17 is a perspective view showing the tearing strip to betterillustrate the manner in which the perforations are staggered.

Figure 18 is a perspective view showing the appearance of mycontainertcp when the tearing strip has been removed therefrom.

Referring to the drawingsjthroughout which like reference charactersindicate like parts, l4

designates generally the body of my container.

This is formed as a single blank having a bottom portion l6, two sideswalls I8 and'2El, and two side panels as 22 and 24 which are twice aswide asthe panels of the container they form. This isto provide thelaterally extending overlapping portions 26 and 28 on each panel. Theblank is out along the lines 38 of Figures 1 and 3, so as to form asquare bottom portion Ilia. Side wall 18 is provided with a tongueportion 32 and a perforated V 34. The diametrically opposed side wall 20is provided with a slit 36 adapted to receive tongue 32 when the closureis effected. Side panels 22 and 24 are provided with outwardly extendingend portions 38 and 39. These are to provide for the materials taken upin the closure arrangement. Each member 22 and 24 is also provided witha perforated half discharge opening 4!] and 4|; these perforated halvesmatch up with perforated portion 34 when the bottle is fully formed,Tout the cut out portions of the perforations are staggered with respectto the perforations of V 34 so that when the two V- shaped portions aresuperimposed there is one full unbroken thickness of paper to form theseal for the pouring opening.

In Figure 3 the scored lines are shown upon which folding ,occurs. Thenature of the folds will probably be fully understood by astudy ofFigures 6 to 12, inclusive, as will the coaction of the various otherportions of the blank. When the container is formed adhesive is appliedto the outer surface of strips 26, 25a, 28, and 280. then, as the blankis formed roughly with a square cross-section, the marginal surfaces as26a. and 28a meet, in the line 42, on their respective sides after theshowing particularly .of Figures l and 5 and the adhesive is placed soas to secure these marginal strips to their respective sides 18 and 2B.This construction provides the two opposite walls of a container with adouble thickness of paper reinforcing each of the .corners so that eventhough paper of relatively light weight is used adequate strength andrigidity is provided; this form also, providing as it does unusuallywide laps, assures a secure joint along the seams so that no leakage canoccur even if the container is jostled about considerably and thecontents tend to bulge it.

In forming containers where the cuts as 30 must extend into the cornerof the bottom there is always a slight tearing of the lower cornerswhich too often are merely sealed with parafiin and then when thecontainers ar put into use, there is a tendency to crack the paraflinand for these corners to tear slightly more thus providing points ofleakage. To guard against this condition I have provided the insertreinforcement 44 which is placed inside the bottom so as to provide twothicknesses of paper and thusreinforce the bottom and provide additionalrigidity in the same. This construction brings the upper surface ofmember M above the point where any tearing normally is experienced andthen as the melted paraffin is fiowedaround the corners a very secureseal isobtained, with the extra material provided by the reinforcementmember 44 giving sufficient rigidity so that the sealing .effect of theparaffin will not be lost, due to cracking of the same when the bottom,if it were light, might be slightly distorted.

In Figures 13 and 14 I have illustrateda modified form of bottomreinforcementas 44a. This member is of the same weight of paper and sameoutside dimensions as the reinforcements shown in Figure 2. It differsfrom the former in certain structural features that admit of more readyand secure placement under certain conditions. The blank as 4311 15provided with two parallel scored lines 60. The reinforcement isslightly folded along these lines after the showing of Figurel i,

and it has been found that as a follower comes down on member 44 thesloping side portions as 62 and 63 serve to more easily guide the memberinto position. The follower which usually seats member 45a is normally avacuum head so that it Will pick up member 44a and hold it securely tothe head during the placement operation; for this reason the centerportion of the reinforcement member Ma must be solid, or unperforated.

Also formed within members 62 and 63 are a plurality of openings 65.These openings of which there may be any reasonable number permit theready escape of air as member 44a is pressed firmly into the bottom ofthe container and neither they, nor the scored line 60, detract from thestrength of the structure when member 4-3 is secured to bottom Ilia andthe adhesive normally used to secure it there has set.

In Figures and 18, inclusive, I have illustrated another form of openingfor my container. This is particularly desirable when it is foundnecessary to handle large items and for other uses when sometimes thecontainers are frozen or otherwise congealed. This opening consists ofperforating three sides of the container with spaced rows ofperforations as 6? and 68 so as to provide a tearing strip '10; thisstrip in its perforations follows the general plan explained for theopening tax 34 in that the perforations are formed before the two layersof paper are bonded together and the perforations are cut cleanly butare spaced somewhat and arranged so that one layer of paper is at alltimes serving to protect the contents of the container against leakage.This structure is probably best illustrated in Figures 16 and 17, whereit will be observed that while the perforations or cutouts are arrangedto provide a definite weakening along lines 56 and 68, they in no waypermit a direct passageway through the container; consequently thesealing paraffin is not itself required to stand the jostling of thecontainers contents. As illustrated in Fig ure 18 when the tearing stripis removed the top member as a whole, indicated by reference character72, can be hinged back thereby giving ready access to the interior ofthe container. It will be noted that on the two opposite sides as I8 and26 there is already provided the two thicknesses of paper. On side 24 itis necessary to insert a band of paper across the tearing strip asindicated by reference character I'd. This strip is cemented in placeand tears out with the tearing strip with which it forms a part.

In actual use the stages of folding and securing the side portions ofthe container, the insertion of the bottom and the paraffining areaccomplished by relatively simple means, due to the fact that all foldsare straight with no requirements that the paper be distorted out ofshape and then snapped into place as is so common with containers havinga fitted in bottom.

As soon as the container is fully assembled it is then ready forfilling. This is accomplished when the container is in the form shown inFigure 6; at this time the entire top is open for filling offering nodifficulties at this point. This same large open top greatly facilitatesthe treating of the inside of the container with paraffin which servesfirst, the purpose of sealing the seams and corners; second,waterproofing the paper against the liquid it is to be used with; and,third, further due to the fact that the paraffin is applied at arelatively high temperature, it kills all bacteria; and, fourth, thefinal covering of paraffin resulting provides a sterfle container thatwill in no way affect any liquids that maybe usedin the container..

After the container is filled the top isclosed by pressing inwardly onlines 46 and 4 8. This forces the apex of triangles 50 inwardly untilfinally lines 46 and 48 meet in the center of the bottle, after theshowing of Figure 8 particularly. When the folding has been accomplishedafter the showing of Figures 8 and 7, the top is heated and sealed undervery high pressure. Then the tab 32 is passed through opening 36 in theside member 20 and the upstanding ends, shown in Figure 7, after beingfitted one to the other, are folded down after the showing of Figures 9,10, and 12,

and a staple 52 is passed through the same to imsure that the oontainerscontents will in no way be tampered with and to further assure that thetop will not be unfolded in dispensing this prouct as it might itself besubject to some contamination.

During the folding and closing operation the extreme lower end oftriangle 34 is tipped outwardly so as to provide a protruding lip 54.This is the tearing lip provided so that when it is desired to dispensethe contents of the container this tearing strip is grasped and pulledupwardly opening the container by breaking out not only the V-shapedportion from side I8 but also the two half V-portions 49 and H which aresecured thereto by the adhesive 56. Attention is particularly invited tothe showing in Figure 11 in which staple 52 is clearly shown to providean anchorage for the two triangles 50 that have been pressed inwardly toform the closure. When the staple is in place it will be evident it isbelieved that these closure triangles will be held secure against anydeformation which might otherwise be accomplished by the movement of theliquid within the containers during handling.

The foregoing description and the accompanying drawings are believed toclearly disclose a preferred embodiment of my invention but it will beunderstood that this disclosure is merely illustrative and that suchchanges in the invention may be made as are fairly within the scope andspirit of the following claims.

I claim:

1. A dispensing carton comprising a rectangular bottom panel having aside wall integral therewith and extending upwardly from each of twoopposed edges, said bottom also having a side panel integral with eachremaining edge and rising therefrom, a lateral extension along each sideedge of each side panel, one extension of each side panel lying along aline common with one side wall, the remaining extension of each sidepanel lying along a line common with the other side wall, adhesive meanssecuring each so paired lateral extensions with the adjoining side wall,forming two double-thickness walls for said container, a neck formingportion on the upper end of each double-thickness side wall adapted toconverge toward each other to close the container throat, a pinch-inportion on the upper end of each side panel adapted to be disposedbetween the converging neck forming portions and to close said cartonthroat, means for securing the flaps and pinch-in portions in the closedposition, partial perforations in each member of a doublethickness wallto define a tearing member for ac cess to the interior of the carton,said tearing members being superimposed on each other, and a lip on theouter tearing member protruding from the body of said carton. I

2. A dispensing carton according to claim 1 in which the innertearingmember-hasits lower edge coincident with the juncture ofthesidewa ll and the associated neck-forming portion, and in which the Ieutertearing member has its lower edge below the juncture of the outerside wall and outer neck-formingmember to form a; tearing=-1ip.

' *3. A- dispensing "carton "according -to claim 1 having' partialslit-like. periorations defining the innerand: outer tearing rmembers,said perforations' being comprised of aseries of spaced apart slitslying along-a lineso thatnthespaces between the outer-series of slitscoincides with the partial perforations-0f the inner series in staggeredreiation.

GORDON.

